Barbershop Quartet

 The fact Fresh starts come at all speeds. Today's was a slow, steady settling. I put away the books and cooking supplies I brought from America and sorted my clothes while Favor sat on the cool tile at my feet flipping through Mufaro's Beatiful Daughters. I erased the July and August calendar drawn on the chalk board on the living room wall that showed all the plans Heather and I had for last summer before the evacuation and drew a new board with some new plans for a new start. I hung out with the neighbors and beat Fatu at a game called Ludo, which is like Sorry! but with tiny dice, a board decorated with pictures of Jesus, and intensely cutthroat rules about stealing oponents' rolls. I took a long meandering Sunday afternoon walk halfway across town to reclaim it and explore the newest evolutions. And after my evening meal and cool bucket bath I sat with the neighbors in the falling light while the ladies braided each other's hair and one of the guys delivered super fly buzz cuts to his brothers and treated the rest of us to scathing analysis and commentary on the recent student council elections at Lango Lippaye. I ended my perfect day with conversation about community strength with Ben and another neighbor whose Unicef-sponsored t-shirt read "A friend who survived Ebola is still a friend." I have plans for a big market run and some meetings on campus tomorrow, and the makings of a tasy cucumber sandwich. And Ma Fata's new dog Lassie is warming up to me.